Goddess by Fiona McIntosh Page A

contrived the meeting—I would never have dared—but I am ever grateful for the opportunity…to talk.’ He cleared his throat andsent a prayer to anyone listening that Pez would never know what had actually occurred.
    ‘It’s odd, you know, that night…before our lives were changed.’
    ‘What’s odd?’
    ‘I was sickening for something. I don’t know what it was about. One moment I was fine, the next I was vomiting into the sand as Ana came away from you on the dune.’
    ‘You were there?’ Lazar heard his voice break slightly on the last word.
    ‘I was awake. Just looking out for her. I had to in case anyone discovered she was not in her tent.’
    Lazar nodded.
    ‘But I was not the only one awake, I’ve just realised.’
    Lazar’s eyes flared with shock. ‘What do you mean?’
    Pez looked stunned. ‘Forgive me. I’ve just recalled that the Grand Vizier stepped out of his tent as she came back to the camp.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘It wasn’t important. I think he was probably emerging to relieve himself, stretch, I don’t know, and her presence perhaps startled him. They spoke briefly and Ana was smiling, the Vizier scratching. A coincidence, and in the scheme of what unfolded that night, inconsequential.’
    ‘What happened?’
    ‘Well, he said he was disturbed. He mentioned this to Ana and to her credit she didn’t miss abeat, told him she’d tripped over one of his tent ropes or something.’
    ‘And he accepted it?’
    ‘What else could he do? She told him she’d just stepped away from the camp to relieve herself. It was a well-crafted and well-executed lie. She didn’t sound abashed, just apologetic for disturbing him.’
    ‘Well, good. She didn’t arouse any further mystery, then?’
    ‘No, but that’s my point, I’m embarrassed to say and only now recall. She never did.’
    ‘I don’t get you.’
    ‘Well it didn’t impact on me at the time but now that I’m thinking about it, I know that Ana arrived soundlessly. She made no noise. My hearing is exceptional, and I knew she was back in camp because I could sense her, not because I could see her or hear her.’
    ‘Am I being a dullard in not understanding what you’re saying?’
    ‘I’m saying that no noise disturbed the Grand Vizier and still he was woken from his deep sleep. I know he was sound asleep because I checked on him.’
    Lazar stared at the dwarf with incomprehension. Pez continued thinking aloud.
    ‘I don’t know what dragged him from his slumber but something did.’
    ‘What now?’ Lazar asked, alarmed that Pez had paled suddenly.
    ‘Perhaps his disturbance was more than coincidence for just moments earlier I had vomited for no good reason and Ana had just stepped silently back into the camp.’
    ‘Ah, I get it. You’re on your Ana-is-Lyana track again. That was one of the things we spoke of that night, Pez. Ana admits that she is not who you think she is. She feels saddened for you that you pursue this dream. And why would Lyana announce anything to Maliz anyway?’
    ‘Lyana, Iridor, Maliz. We are all helplessly connected. We do not necessarily choose to communicate but our lives are irrevocably bound. Something disturbed Maliz and Iridor when Ana was present—albeit silent.’ Pez suddenly fell on all fours and began barking.
    Lazar deliberately turned away, striking a bored pose as he leaned over the balcony. He heard the click of a heel and the smell of perfume reached him before she did.
    ‘We’ll talk on this later,’ Lazar whispered to Pez. The dwarf reared up on his legs and began beating his chest as the Valide swept onto the verandah.
    ‘Good morning, Lazar. You have lots of colour in your face today.’
    ‘I feel the brightest I’ve felt in a while. It must be your fine care, Valide.’
    She demurred with a soft shrug and a smile behind her veil. ‘Oh, begone with you, dwarf! Your noise is enough to set anyone’s health back.’ She called behind her to an Elim who hadfollowed into Lazar’s